Monetization Featured

Affiliate Marketing In 2024 Isn't Built On Links. And FirstPromoter 2.0 Gets It.

Affiliate marketing isn't dying—it's evolving. Traditional methods don't suit podcasters who engage through conversation, not clickable links. Learn how FirstPromoter's new features, like Stripe coupon code integration, make affiliate marketing more natural and effective for modern content creators.

Jacob Anderson

Oct 31, 2024 • 5 min read

I've spent the last couple months rebuilding our affiliate program at Alitu. Not because I wanted to - because I had to. Our old system wasn't working, especially for our podcaster partners.

I've been telling myself a story about affiliate marketing for years now

Here's the thing about podcasters: they talk. That's literally their superpower. But traditional affiliate marketing? It's built for people who write.

Try saying "Click the link in the description" in the middle of a natural conversation about podcast editing. Go on, try it. I'll wait.

Feels weird, right?

That's why I nearly cancelled our FirstPromoter subscription a few weeks ago. But then something interesting happened.

I had my finger hovering over FirstPromoter's "Cancel Subscription" button when something caught my eye. Actually, let me back up.

We need to talk about affiliate marketing for a minute. Not the sleazy "make money online" kind. The real kind, where creators recommend tools they actually use to people who actually need them.

For years, I've been telling myself a story about affiliate marketing. That it's dying. That it's being replaced by influencer marketing. That it's just not relevant anymore.

And I was wrong. But I was also kind of right.

The Link Problem

Here's what I realized: Affiliate marketing isn't dying. But the way we've been doing it? That's on life support.

Traditional affiliate marketing was built for blogs. Written content. Places where you could naturally embed links and track clicks. It worked great when the internet was mostly text.

But I'm not a blogger. I'm a podcaster. A video creator. Someone who talks to their audience rather than writes to them.

And telling someone to "click the link in the description" feels about as natural as a cat in a swimming pool.

The Beta That Changed Everything

I'm a sucker for a beta test. Show me a "try the new version" button and I'm smashing it before you can say "experimental features." So when FirstPromoter announced v2.0 beta, I was there.

At first, it just looked prettier. Nice UI, smoother navigation, all that good stuff. But then I saw it: Stripe coupon code integration.

Hold up.

You mean our partners could just... say a code? Their listeners could just... remember it? No links? No tracking pixels? No "click here" awkwardness?

Ideal. Feels like it should have always been this way.

The Bigger Picture on Affiliate Marketing

On a recent episode of Creator Toolbox, I subjected Colin and our poor listeners to a rant about affiliate marketing and how it's changed over time. This ended with me admitting I was wrong to think affiliate marketing was dying, but I couldn't quite pinpoint where it was going.

I had to know if this was just me or if something bigger was happening. So I reached out to Virgil Ciaoca, FirstPromoter's founder.

"Old school commission based affiliate marketing is stronger than ever, especially now with the rise of AI products," he told me. "In B2B, we don't really see pay-by-post marketing approaches and in B2C we're seeing a shift from traditional referral links to personalized coupon code tracking, while keeping the commission based model."

The man gets it. This isn't about making affiliate marketing "easier" - it's about making it natural.

How Are FirstPromoter Responding To The Shift?

I've been using the v2.0 beta for weeks now, and here's what's actually new:

Stripe coupon codes: Just... yes. This is what we needed.
Broadcast emails to affiliates: How did v1 not have this?!
Better reporting: Actually useful data about what's working
Proper affiliate management: Because spreadsheets are where enthusiasm goes to die

But the really exciting stuff is coming soon. Virgil shared some plans that made me bounce in my chair:

Managed auto-payouts (one invoice to rule them all)
Wise one-click payouts (PayPal, we need to talk...)
An affiliate marketplace (this is all in the implementation, but could be really exciting)

Real Talk: How This Changes Things

Let me show you how this plays out in real life:

Old Way:

"Thanks for listening! If you want to try Alitu, click the link in the description, scroll down to the pricing section, and..."

[Listener has already switched to another podcast]

New Way:

"If you're tired of wrestling with Audacity, Alitu makes podcast editing dead simple. Use code 'JACOB' for 50% off your first month."

See the difference? One feels like an ad. The other feels like helping.

Here's the Wild Part

Our partners with smaller, focused audiences often convert better than the big names. Why? Because their audience trusts them. When someone with 300 true fans recommends a tool they actually use, those fans listen.

FirstPromoter 2.0 isn't just making this easier - it's making it a bit more human.

What's Coming Next

The tools are evolving because creator monetization is evolving. We're moving from:

Links to conversations
Tracking pixels to trust
Affiliate "programs" to genuine partnerships

Should You Care?

If you're creating content where you talk to your audience (podcasts, videos, live streams), this matters. A lot.

If you're running an affiliate program, this really matters. The old "here's your link, good luck" approach is dead. Good riddance.

FirstPromoter starts at $49/month. And yes, you can use code "JACOB" for 50% off your first month. (See how natural that felt?)

But honestly? The price doesn't matter as much as what it represents. This is about making creator monetization feel less like marketing and more like helping.

That's why I didn't cancel. That's why I'm excited. And that's why I spent way too long writing this at 2 AM.

Using FirstPromoter? Tried the beta? Strong opinions about discount codes? Drop a comment below. I read every one.

P.S. If you're one of our Alitu partners reading this - yes, this is why I've been sending you so many emails lately. Exciting changes coming!

Want to read more of my yapping on affiliate marketing?